CHAPTER FOUR

DANIEL'S POV.

THE NEXT DAY.

I couldn't believe I'd hired that girl. She was so weird and different from anyone I'd seen before and that didn't sit well with me. My pitying self just had to look into her big eyes and give her what she wanted. Now I'm stuck with her as my maid.

"What's that lady's name again?" I asked Clara who was doing her best to keep up with my stride.

"Jessica Cooper," Clara said, out of breath.

Jessica Cooper is the last name I was expecting a girl like her to bear. She should've been a Miranda or Laurel, Jessica doesn't suit her. Whatever, I don't care.

We passed the junior employees who had their heads bowed in greeting and I ignored them. We made it to our floor and the atmosphere of the room didn't seem pleasing. Everyone had their heads bowed, and they looked frightened.

I stopped at one employees desk—I think his name was Logan or something and he got up with so much force the chair almost fell back. That right there is was power can do.

"What is going on? Why do you guys look like you're having a funeral?"

Logan looked genuinely surprised I was talking to him, he had to blink several times. "It's ... your ... Uhmm—"

"For fucks sake, stop stuttering," I demand, irritated.

"Sorry, Sir. It's your Dad. He's in your office and he is very mad about the proposal—"

I dashed towards the office not looking back.

"You need to calm down before you talk to him," Clara called from behind, hurrying to keep up.

I took a deep breath before pulling the door open. Dad was seated there, his posture stern and his face so cold, it was scary.

How would I explain that I'd lost the deal because of my reputation. The clients didn't believe I had the ability to handle a project as big as that, given my irresponsible behaviour in the past.

"Dad I can explain what happen—"

"Explain what!" He barked.

"Dad, I was really prepared to take on the project. I'd even partnered with Schumann, but the man was too particular about the type of person he wanted to partner with." I tried my best not to sound as nervous as I felt.

Dad barked out laughter, but it wasn't humourous. "And you aren't that person why? You're an irresponsible young man who acts like a child always. Why else do you think he refused to sign with you?"

He was right. Mr Bingley had given the exact reason, he felt I was rather too childish and preferred to work with a stable married young man. But I can never give him that, I'm not made for marriage—I'm not even marriage material.

"I really tried my best Dad, but he wanted someone who was married and settled down. He's a family kind of man and that's one thing I can't be," I sighed, hanging my head low in defeat.

His nostrils flared and he got up slamming the table. "What are you saying? Are you listening to your self? How old are you, thirty? What do you mean you can't get married?"

"You heard me fine Dad. I'm not getting married ever."

Dad chuckled. "You must be joking to think I'll be fine with that. Do you think you can stay unmarried in this business for life? That's your problem, you don't ever think like a man. All you think of is the stick in your pants—"

"Dad!"

"It's the truth," he fired back. "You need to wake up, son. This company could go down in front of our eyes if you keep being this nonchalant."

"I know this and I'm working on it," I sighed.

Dad shook his head. "No you're not. What would you do when another person refuses to collaborate with you? You should know that most of the influencial men in this business are family oriented, no one would want to work with an unserious man like you."

His words sting, but I was used to them. It's nothing new.

"Can you give me one more chance to prove myself at least?"

He barked out laughing, ofcourse without humour. His piercing green eyes which were the same colour as mine, showing disappointment, that made my stomach coil.

"You want one more chance," he increased his tone, "you want one more chance? How many times would I give you one more chance? You have proven times without number that you're irresponsible and not capable of handling our business. What do you think your mother would say if she hears you say you don't want a family? Are you insane boy?"

"I'm not insane!" I fired back, sick and tired of him bringing me down. "I'm not insane and we both know it, all I'm saying is Mr Bingley is a jerk for refusing the proposal just because I'm not married. I don't want to get married and I would never under any circumstances change this for any reason."

"Oh really? Maybe it's time I let you know then," he said, crossing his arms. "I would be withdrawing all your properties and everything you own until you come to your senses and settle down."

What? Did he just say that? What was I supposed to do without all my properties?

"Dad, you must be joking right?"

He shook his head with rage in his eyes. "No, I'm not one to joke and you know that. Allow me to finish, I would make sure to freeze all your credit cards and everything under my name that you're using. You have to learn how to take care of yourself since you're a man—a man who wants to live as a bachelor forever. You would no longer be using my surname and I will be cutting ties with you from anything concerning business, you can be known as my son only outside our business lives."

My heart started pounding as I pictured everything he had said in my mind. How would I live without his money, his status and his business? It is very heartbreaking to realise that you're nothing without your father. I felt like a worthless piece of garbage, but I couldn't back down without a fight.

"Dad please, just relax. I'm sorry, okay? Please just think about what you said again, what would I do if you take away everything I have dad?" I pleaded with him, but he looked so unmoved by my plea, that I had to stop myself.

"Are you sure about this, Dad?" I held his gaze, hoping to see a shift in his emotions, but no, he looked even more disappointed that I was begging like a kid.

So, I was really nothing without him. I never thought of it until now. I'm utterly screwed and ruined.

"Do you hear yourself? Don't you just sound like a kid? Without your father you're nothing, but a spoilt thirty year old brat, but you want me to believe you're good enough to handle my business," he smacked the table repeatedly. "Get this in your head boy, I love you as a father, but I can't stand you as a business man. You don't understand business and you might never succeed if you keep going around with your mindset."

Ouch.

I did nothing but stare at him as he picked up his key and bolted out of the office, smacking my shoulder in the process. The embarrassment and guilt I felt got more intense when I turned around and saw Clara watching the whole thing with a look of pity on her face.

That was the one thing I hated, pity. I hated it since I was a child and I never ever wanted anything that would make me receive it. I'd thought I was always doing the right thing—yes sure, I was irresponsible and an asshole sometimes, but I was trying my best, I'd given up a lot of things to take the place of CEO in this company—but it took just minutes for everything I'd thought about myself to change into nothing.

I wasn't good enough for anything. Not even my own father could lie to me just to make me feel better about myself. He told me the cold hard truth. I'm irresponsible and useless to him.

I swallowed the huge lump in my throat and summoned Clara. She nervously came to my side, watching me with caution, maybe expecting me to vent my frustrations at her. The urge to do so was tempting but I knew better than that.

"You heard everything right?" I asked, looking anywhere but at her face.

"Y-yes Sir," she nodded quickly. "What ... Is there anything I can do for you right now S-sir?"

"Quit stuttering okay?" I frowned, dumping myself into my chair and rubbing at my temples. "Since you heard everything loud and clear then tell me as my friend not as an employee, what do you think I can do about this?"

Clara cleared her throat before saying, "For me I think you should give him what he wants."

I whipped my head towards her. "What? That means I should get married? I can't do that?"

"If you want him to trust you again then you need to give him a good reason to," Clara shrugged. "Besides, it doesn't have to be a real marriage you know?"

Was Clara insane?